The procession down Church Street
When: 6th – 7th May 2018
Where: Clun, Shropshire
£: Free (a festival programme costs 20p)
What is it?
The Clun Green Man Festival is a traditional annual event with music, drama and medieval merriment, celebrating the arrival of spring.
The highlight of the festival is a playful ‘battle’ between two characters, ‘The Green Man’ and ‘The Frost Queen’, who symbolise a battle between the seasons of winter and spring.
For those who haven’t heard of The Green Man before, he was once a popular mythical figure used to symbolise rebirth and was often used to represent spring. The Green Man, often depicted with a face made from leaves and other vegetation, can still be found in various forms around the country. He is commonly seen in wood and stone carvings on buildings and furniture, as well as on traditional signs for pubs named The Green Man. Clun’s version of The Green Man is unique to the area, with a face made of leaves and deer antlers on his head.
The Clun Green Man Festival kicks off on Sunday 6th May as The Frost Queen’s Battle takes place in The Square. Visitors to the festival will be able to watch as The Green Man attempts to defeat The Frost Queen in this historic mock battle. As well as the battle, there is usually plenty of traditional street entertainment including Morris dancing and Jack the Jester.
The Jester and The Frost Queen
On Monday 7th May, there is another battle between The Green Man and The Frost Queen. This is the most important day of the festival, as tradition states that if The Green Man does not defeat The Frost Queen there will be no summer in Clun Valley!
The day begins with pre-battle entertainment on the bridge from 11.30am with Jack the Jester. At 12 noon The Green Man approaches the bridge, accompanied by the May Queen. The famous Battle on the Bridge then follows. If The Green Man wins the battle (and we suspect he will) then the Traditional May Fair will commence.
This year the fair will take place Memorial Hall field with a craft fair and entertainment, including archery, zorbs, refreshments, Maypole dancing, Morris dancing and Wobbly dancing to enjoy. If you are heading to the fair, please take your own drinks container, to help the festival cut down on plastic use.
More info: www.clungreenman.org.uk and www.facebook.com/ClunGreenManFestival